Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson is expected to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft. / L.G. Patterson, AP

by Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sports

by Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Missouri's defense will be a little thinner up front with announcement Friday defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is entering the NFL draft.

Richardson had an outstanding junior season, finishing with an impressive 75 tackles to rank second on team and tops among interior lineman in the SEC.

After two seasons of junior college and two seasons at Missouri, he felt it was time to move on.

"This has been my dream ever since I was a little kid," Richardson said in a statement. "It's still not easy leaving Mizzou like this, but I know I'm ready. I really appreciate all of the support I got here at Mizzou, and I know that they will help me and my family with this next step. I'll always be a Tiger."

"I've always said that when guys have opportunities like these, if they're ready to go, then they should go," Pinkel said in a statement. "I have no doubt that Sheldon is ready to play in the NFL, and while we'd love to have him for another year, the important thing is that this is the right decision. It will be fun watching him play on Sundays."

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